Higuchi, Susaki reign supreme as two Olympic champs tumble

Saturday, December 24, 2022 - 16:16 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 24) -- On a day that saw two of her fellow Tokyo Olympic champions tumble to defeat, Yui SUSAKI remained as rock steady as always, while Rei HIGUCHI gave his ambitions for an elusive Olympic gold a further boost.

Susaki continued her dominance of Remina YOSHIMOTO, who held the national and world titles in her absence, cruising to an 8-0 victory in the women's 50kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday in Tokyo for her first title since 2019.

Higuchi, coming off winning his first world title at freestyle 61kg, defeated Asian bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI 8-4 to regain the national title at 57kg, the weight class in which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics that he is looking to better in Paris in two years.

Meanwhile, a highly anticipated clash between Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI and 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI at women's 53kg was put on hold after world 55kg champion Haruna OKUNO crashed the party by beating Shidochi for the first time in 10 career meetings.

Yukako KAWAI became the second Olympic casualty when the gold medalist at women's 62kg was overwhelmed in the semifinals by world 59kg bronze medalist Sakura MOTOKI, who earned a meeting in the final with reigning world champion Nonoka OZAKI.

Takuto OTOGURO, ending a long hiatus with his first competition since winning the Olympic gold at freestyle 65kg, avoided the upset bug by storming into the final with a pair of 10-0 technical falls. Like Susaki and Higuchi, his last national title came in 2019.

For the top wrestlers, the tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym is serving as the first of two domestic qualifying tournaments for next year's World Championships in Belgrade, where the first spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics will be up for grabs.

A medal in an Olympic weight won by a Japanese in Belgrade means an automatic ticket to Paris, thus adding urgency to making the team. Those who lose at the Emperor's Cup will get another shot in June at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) Yui SUSAKI scores with a counter lift in the women's 50kg final against Remina YOSHIMOTO. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Susaki, whose close call with nearly missing out on the Tokyo Olympics has been well documented, is determined to be in Paris to defend her title and is leaving nothing to chance. As she has done throughout this history-making year, on Saturday she wrestled calmly and decisively, taking advantage of every opportunity and not giving her opponent any openings.

"This is the first step in the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics, and I was able to achieve what I set out to do," Susaki said.

Unlike her typical matches in which she gets a takedown and then rips off four straight lace-lock rolls for a quick victory, Susaki scored all of her points in different ways against Yoshimoto, who had ascended to the national throne in 2020 and 2021 that Susaki had abdicated.

Susaki started with a takedown off a single-leg for a 2-0 lead, then added four points with a counter lift and a gut wrench to go into the break up 6-0. In the second period, Susaki forced a stalemate from a Yoshimoto shot, then spun behind after countering another in the final seconds for her final takedown. She had now beaten Yoshimoto in all five of their career matches.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) Yui SUSAKI celebrates her victory in the women's 50kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

It was a much cleaner and well-executed victory than her 4-2 win over Yoshimoto in the final of the Meiji Cup last June, which remains the only time Susaki has been scored upon in her last 23 matches dating back to early 2021.

"At the Meiji Cup, I watched for the opponent to make a move and didn't stay on the attack to the end, which I regretted," Susaki said. "This time, I kept attacking, so I feel I've cleared that issue."

Susaki, who this year regained the world title she had previously won in 2017 and 2018 in September in Belgrade, also picked up the only major title missing from her collection a month later by capturing the world U23 gold. That completed an unprecedented "Grand Slam" of Olympic gold and all four age-group titles.

Asked about the pressure of Olympic qualifying, she replied, "I don't feel tension. Like before the Tokyo Olympics, I feel more excited that the qualifying for the Olympics has started."

Susaki said she watched the other Olympic champions fall on a monitor in the warmup room, and that it makes her more determined to maintain her focus on the journey ahead.

"The younger wrestlers and others all have their own goals and have been making progress in trying to achieve them," Susaki said. "It makes me feel I have to keep trying even harder and aim higher."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) Rei HIGUCHI won his first world title in September in Belgrade at 61kg. (Photo: UWW/Kadir Caliskan)

Higuchi's victory in the 57kg final, which gave him his fourth career title, was noteworthy in that his opponent spent about half of the match on his back, a credit perhaps to him that he could avoid the fall. The two often practice together at Nippon Sport Science University, where they are both alumni.

Early in the match, Higuchi caught Arai in a cradle to his back, then switched it to a Turk ride with a cross-face. For more than two minutes, Arai managed to keep a shoulder off the mat until he was saved by the buzzer ending the period.

Higuchi added a takedown off a counter to go up 6-0. But Arai, who had knocked off 2021 world 61kg bronze medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA in the quarterfinals, came back to life with a counter lift and gut wrench to cut the lead to two.

Higuchi then put the match away with a single-leg attack to exposure, from which he again went to the Turk ride and cross-face and held Arai on his back for the final 1:10 of the match.

"This is the first of the tournaments that I have to win out at, but I went in with the feeling of being the challenger and stayed relaxed and stayed aggressive," Higuchi said. "In the final, after I gave up points I immediately came back and scored myself. I give myself a passing grade for the effort."

For Higuchi, the effort involves a battle with the scale. He famously failed to make weight for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament, which indirectly led to him missing out on the Tokyo Games.

When it comes to strength and skill, he said he feels he showed he could more than hold his own by winning the world title in the heavier weight class.

"Losing weight is tough," he said. "I was able to win the world title at 61kg. I showed I had the power and technique to be No. 1 in the world. I think I brought that to 57kg."

In other finals, 2021 world bronze medalist Sae NANJO followed up her semifinal victory over world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI by regaining the women's 57kg title with a victory over Asian 59kg champion Sara NATAMI.

Leading 1-0 in the second period, Nanjo countered a single-leg shot by Natami by slapping a cradle on her, then twisted her onto her back for a fall in 4:01. The victory gave Nanjo her fourth career title and first since 2020.

Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) Kyotaro SOGABE celebrates his victory in the Greco 67kg final over Katsuaki ENDO. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Collegian Kyotaro SOGABE finally reached the pinnacle that has been expected of him since his days as a high school star, beating defending champion and senior training partner Katsuaki ENDO 9-3 for the gold in Greco 67kg.

Sogabe led 3-1 when he came up on top in a late second-period scramble, then added a pair of gut wrenches to avenge a loss in the Meiji Cup final last June to Endo, an Asian bronze medalist this year and 2018 world U23 champion.

A junior at Endo's alma mater of Nippon Sports Science University, Sogabe finished second at this year's Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in Warsaw, which he followed with a world U20 bronze medal.

Not bad for a wrestler who won three national high school titles despite the fact that his high school in rural Ehime Prefecture did not have a team, forcing him to practice at another school.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) Takuto OTOGURO puts the pressure on Kaiji OGINO during their semifinal match at freestyle 65kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Otoguro, Fujinami cruise

Following the Tokyo Olympics, Japan's medalists all took some time off before gradually returning to the mat. Otoguro was the last one to end his hiatus, and his performance Saturday made it look like he had never been away.

And technically speaking, he wasn't. He may not have been competing, but he was still practicing hard as a member of the Self-Defense Forces Physical Training School team.

"In the past, I've gone a year or two without a competitive match, and then suddenly came back," said Otoguro, who has endured his share of injuries. "Because of that experience, it wasn't like there was anything different than usual this time. Instead of matches, I'm practicing every day. So I've got a solid foundation."

In the semifinals, Otoguro easily defeated Kaiji OGINO -- a student at Otoguro's alma mater of Yamanashi Gakuin University -- by 10-0 technical fall in 1:49 to advance to the final against world U23 bronze medalist Ryoma ANRAKU.

Fujinami is also returning from a layoff, although hers was unforced as injuries forced her to skip both the senior worlds and the world U23. She said she has completely recovered, and showed it with back-to-back technical falls to advance to the women's 53kg final against Okuno.

"It was my first match in four months, and I feel I've got my mat sense back leading into tomorrow," said Fujinami, whose victories extended her current winning streak to 105 matches that includes those in the run to the 2021 senior world title.

The 19-year-old Fujinami has beaten Okuno in all three of their previous encounters, most recently a 4-0 victory in the final at last June's Meiji Cup.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN) Haruna OKUNO, left, notched her first victory over Mayu SHIDOCHI in 10 career meetings to advance to the women's 53kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

But Okuno, a two-time senior world champion who added a third world U23 gold this year, showed she might be a different wrestler than before with her stunning win over Shidochi.

In a match that saw only a few shots, all defended well by both wrestlers, Okuno defeated Shidochi 3-1 with all but one point scored on the activity clock. Okuno was on the receiving end of two of them, then clinched the match when Shidochi stepped out while having Okuno in a front headlock with :32 left.

Neither wrestler made themselves available to the media after the match.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI gains control of Yukako KAWAI during their women's 62kg semifinal match. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Kawai also wouldn't offer any comments on her one-sided loss to Motoki, who stormed to a 9-2 victory in which all of the points were scored in the first period.

Motoki opened with a pair of takedowns, then added two two-point exposures from a chicken wing hold. Kawai had a chance to snatch a victory when she put Motoki on her back during a scramble, but Motoki squirmed free and scored a reversal.

When the final buzzer sounded, Kawai dropped to her knees, having apparently suffered a left leg injury sometime during the bout. She had to be helped off the mat.

The victory earns Motoki a clash with one of Japan's hottest wrestlers, Nonoka OZAKI, who has put together a string of titles this year that include the world U20, senior and U23 titles in succession over a three-month span. She also beat Kawai in the Meiji Cup final in June.

The 19-year-old Ozaki's lone loss dating back to August 2017 came in the second round of the 2021 World Championships to eventual champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), a defeat she has since avenged. She advanced to the final on Sunday with a pair of technical falls.

"This is one tournament related to qualifying for the Paris Olympics, so I prepared myself more than I had ever done before and am confident of winning the title," Ozaki said. "My spirit is in sync with my body and I'm moving very well."

As for the unexpected change in her final opponent, she said, "I never concern myself with who the opponent is, only that I do what I need to do. I'm always nervous in a match and have various emotions, but this tournament I'm really enjoying myself, so I have good vibes going."

At Greco 60kg, Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA advanced to the final with a 9-0 technical fall over Kosei TAKESHITA as he aims for his fourth career title and first in two years.

He will face Maito KAWANA, who defeated defending champion Ayata SUZUKI in the quarterfinals.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (11 entries)
Gold - Rei HIGUCHI df. Rikuto ARAI, 8-4

Bronze - Ryuto SAKAKI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 4-1
Bronze - Yuto NISHIUCHI df. Yuki TAKAHASHI by Def.

65kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Takuto OTOGURO df. Kaiji OGINO by TF, 10-0, 1:29
Semifinal - Ryoma ANRAKU df. Yujiro UENO, 8-1

70kg (14 entries)
Gold - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Daiju SUZUKI, 8-1

Bronze - Toki OGAWA df. Keitaro ONO, 10-4
Bronze - Taishin YAMAJI df. Ryota UCHIYAMA by Fall, 1:55 (5-0)

Semifinal - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Toki OGAWA, 3-0
Semifinal - Daiju SUZUKI df. Ryota UCHIYAMA, 5-3

79kg (14 entries)
Gold - Yajuro YAMAZAKI df. Kosuke YAMAKURA, 6-0

Bronze - Takahiro MURAYAMA df. Kohei KITAMURA by TF, 10-0, :51
Bronze - Kota ABE df. Kenshin YAMAJI by Def.

Semifinal - Yajuro YAMAZAKI df. Takahiro MURAYAMA, 4-0
Semifinal - Kosuke YAMAKURA df. Kenshin YAMAJI by TF, 12-0, 1:19

86kg (14 entries)
Gold - Hayato ISHIGURO df. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 4-2

Bronze - Taisei MATSUYUKI df. Shota SHIRAI by Def.
Bronze - Fumiya IGARASHI df. Ryuki YOSHIDA by Def.

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
Semifinal - Kenichiro FUMITA df. Kosei TAKESHITA by TF, 9-0, 1:59
Semifinal - Maito KAWANA df. Yuto GOMI, 7-0

67kg (13 entries)
Gold - Kyotaro SOGABE df. Katsuaki ENDO, 9-3

Bronze - Haruto YABE df. Yuji UEGAKI, 3-1
Bronze - Eito NISHIDA df. Shigeki TSUTSUMI, 5-2

77kg (13 entries)
Gold - Kodai SAKURABA df. Nao KUSAKA by TF, 10-1, 5:43

Bronze - Tatsuya FUJII df. Shohei YABIKU, 3-3
Bronze - Minto MAEDA df. Naoki KADODE by TF, 9-0, 1:56

82kg (12 entries)
Gold - Yuya MAEDA df. Masao TANAKA, 7-5

Bronze - Daizo TANIZAKI df. Muuto SAWADA by TF, 8-0, 4:10
Bronze - Desshin HIGUCHI df. Kiriru SHIMABUKURO, 9-5

Semifinal - Masao TANAKA df. Muuto SAWADA, 9-4
Semifinal - Yuya MAEDA df. Kiriru SHIMABUKURO by TF, 9-0, 3:33

Women

50kg (16 entries)
Gold - Yui SUSAKI df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 8-0

Bronze - Umi ITO df. Nanami IRIE by TF, 10-0, :48
Bronze - Hanano SAKURAI df. Haruna MORIKAWA by TF, 10-0, 2:21

53kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Akari FUJINAMI df. Mako ONO by TF, 10-0, :28
Semifinal - Haruna OKUNO df. Mayu SHIDOCHI, 3-1

57kg (10 entries)
Gold - Sae NANJO df. Sara NATAMI by Fall, 4:01 (5-0)

Bronze - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Ibuki TAMURA by Def.
Bronze - Yumeka TANABE df. Umi IMAI, 6-4

62kg (11 entries)
Semifinal - Nonoka OZAKI df. Nayu UCHIDA by TF, 10-0, 3:57
Semifinal - Sakura MOTOKI df. Yukako KAWAI, 9-2

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 16:28 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 23) -- Eight years after it last hosted the World U17 Championships, Greece gears up for another.

The 2025 World U17 Championships will be held in Athens from July 28 to August 3 at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the historic venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

While the wrestlers will be making new memories, one former wrestler will be reliving old memories. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) will be revisiting Athens, this time as Japan’s team coach, 21 years after she won her first gold medal at the Games in 2004.

Japan is expected to reclaim the Women's Wrestling team title it lost to India in 2024. The United States, Ukraine and China are also sending strong teams.

In Freestyle, the U.S. will battle it out with Iran, the top two countries last year. Meanwhile, in Greco-Roman, Iran will face challenges from Asian counterparts and Azerbaijan.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman on July 28 with five weight classes and will follow a two-day format. Women's Wrestling will begin July 30 and Freestyle on August 1. The repechage and medal bouts of each weight category will be held the next day.

The action from the World U17 Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App. Follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is one of the returning world U17 champions in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

The defending team champion the U.S. boasts a quality line-up including world champ Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and four Pan-Am champions from 2025 -- Ariah MILLS (USA), Alexander TAYLOR (USA), Jayden JAMES (USA) and Arseni KIKINIOU (USA).

Iran, which missed the Asian U17 Championships, has wrestlers who have previous success at Asian level and in ISF Gymnasiade. It won only two gold medals last year, but it hopes Morteza HAJ (IRI), Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) and Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) will help it better that number this year.

Said PASHAYEV (AZE) is the European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Six out of the 10 European champions from 2025 are set to be in Athens with Azerbaijan entering three. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) at 48kg, Ruslan ALIZADA (AZE) at 55kg and Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg will be the biggest hopes for Azerbaijan to win gold, a medal the country was denied last year.

The other European champs are Zorab ALOIEV (UKR) at 61kg, Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) at 80kg and Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) at 110kg.

Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) won the 60kg gold at the Asian U17 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had a successful Asian U17 Championships in Vietnam after the no-show of Iran and Japan's subdued performance.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in Vietnam and both wrestlers, Ibrahim YSKAKBEK (KAZ) at 55kg and Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) at 60kg, will be in Athens and try to win a world gold, a medal the country has not won since 2022.

Kyrgyzstan also had two gold medalists, Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ) at 45kg and Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) at 48kg, at Asian Championships. The onus will be on these to lead the team as it looks for a second straight top-three finish. Last year, it placed third, the highest for the country at the world level.

Uzbekistan won only one gold in Vietnam but every wrestler competed for a medal, helping it finish third. Japan and India, fourth and fifth in Vietnam, are likely to be the dark horses in Greece.

A few others who can surprise the field including returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 60kg, returning champ Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) at 51kg, Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) at 55kg, returning silver medalist Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) at 65kg and Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg.

KAJAL (IND) was one of India's five world U17 champions in 2024. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling

Japan will undoubtedly be favored to win the team title but in the last few years, Japan's supremacy has been challenged by both the United States and India.

India won the team title last year for the first time with an incredible performance, winning five gold medals while Japan only won one.

Can Japan bounce back? Certainly.

Yu KATAOKA (JPN) at 49kg and Rion OGAWA (JPN) at 53kg have dominated the continental level and have been unbeaten internationally. They will lead a team that also includes An NAKANISHI (JPN), Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and Hanano OYA (JPN).

Japan will have to step up when it comes to heavier weight classes if it wants to capture the trophy. The presence of Icho as coach should serve as motivation for the young wrestlers, who take on the world.

India will have six current and former continental champions in Athens. KAJAL (IND), world champ at 69kg, will be at 73kg this year but will still be the favorite to win the gold medal. She was dealt a shock loss at the Asian Championships by Wenjin QIU (CHN) in the final. Qiu will also be in Athens and a potential clash with Kajal is on the cards.

Asian champ RACHANA (IND), who has silver from 2023 Worlds, will be at 43kg hoping to win gold. Kasish GURJAR (IND) was the Asian champion in 2023, MONI (IND) is the Asian champ at 57kg while Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time continental champion at 65kg. MANISHA (IND), who won gold in Vietnam, will lead India's charge at 69kg.

Former world u17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) is one of the favorites to win at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. is bringing a host of Pan-American champions but its biggest star will be 2023 world champ Morgan TURNER (USA), who also won the bronze medal in 2024. She will be at 49kg, a weight class in which she won the Pan-Am gold this year.

At 40kg, Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) is a Pan-Am champion and so is Emma BACON (USA) at 57kg, Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) at 61kg, Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg, Cassandra GONZALES (USA) at 69kg and Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) at 73kg.

Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), who also won Pan-Am gold at 46kg, is a returning bronze medalist and will be one of the favorites for the gold medal this year.

From Europe, nine 2025 continental champions are entered for Athens. European champion at 40kg Valia HARSAN (ROU) will test herself against Asian champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) along with other big names in the field including European silver medalist Polina TIMSINA (EST), European bronze medalist Finja STRAUCH (GER) and Daria MASLENNIKOVA (UWW), who is three-time European U15 champion.

Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) was the champion at 43kg and will be the favorite for the gold medal as well.

At 46kg, Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) is a returning bronze medalist from 40kg but will contend with Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the weight class. Sillei is unbeaten internationally and won the European gold in Skopje. Local wrestler and world silver from 43kg Maria GKIKA (GRE) will hope to win a medal for the hosts. Additionally, Gurjar, Hanano OYA (JPN), world silver from 40kg Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), Bouzakis and European silver Irina TSYDEEVA (UWW) will have their eyes on gold.

A battle between Kataoka and Turner is expected at 49kg which also has Asian silver medalist Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist and European champ Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

SAARIKA (IND) won the Asian U20 Championships gold medal after a close win over Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), a Klippan Lady Open champion and 2022 World U17 Championships silver medalist. But for success in Athens, Saarika will have to battle it out with European champion at 53kg Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Japanese star Ogawa, two-time European silver Fatma YILMAZ (TUR) and Euro U15 champ Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR), who is 15 years old and Elison.

Japan has unheralded Sayuki TANADA (JPN) at 57kg which also has Asian champion MONI (IND), Asian silver Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ), European silver Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and Bacon. This is the only weight class in which the European champion has not entered.

Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is Georgia's first-ever European champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, history-maker for Georgia's Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) has entered hoping to win a world medal for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. She was the first European champ for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. But she will face resistance from Asian champ Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), European silver Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) and European champ Zalina TOTROVA (UWW).

Germany's Feenja HERMANN (GER) finished seventh at 57kg last year but managed to win the European silver medal at 65kg this year. She will be hoping for a world medal as well. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time Asian champ at this weight class and Japan has Mitsuki OKAWA (JPN). Lasure and European champ Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW) will also be presenting their challenges.

Another of Germany's big hope is Ayla SAHIN (GER) who won the gold medal at the Europeans at 69kg. She was 10th last year at the Worlds at 65kg. But Asian champ MANISHA (IND), Mao TERAOKA (JPN), Pan-Am silver Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), Pan-Am champ Gonzales and European silver medalist Zukhra KAZULAEVA (UWW) are also in the mix.

Apart from the Kajal-Qiu match-up at 73kg, European silver medalist Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), European champion Eylem ENGIN (TUR), a returning medalist from 57kg, returning fifth-placer Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) and Pan-Am champ Poalillo will make this category worth a watch.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) is one of the three Asian U17 champions for Uzbekistan in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

Last year, Uzbekistan was a standout in Greco-Roman at the U17 level, winning the Asian U17 team title and finishing second at the World Championships. It continued this success at the Asian level this year, with each wrestler winning a medal, including three golds.

Uzbekistan will once again be in the team race and threaten Iran, the defending champions.

All three of its Asian champs -- Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) at 71kg, Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) at 80kg and Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) at 92kg -- will compete in Athens.

Iran will rely heavily on its heavyweights Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg and Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) at 110kg for gold medals.

Last year's 15th-placer Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) at 71kg will be a handful for his opponents and Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) will be the favorite at 55kg. Amir HAJIVAND (IRI) at 48kg and Amirmohammad HAJI (IRI) at 51kg will compete in the gold-medal hunt as well.

Azerbaijan is another country that is bringing a strong squad to Athens. It has three European champions and three medalists from Skopje making the trip.

While the lighter and heavier weight classes have seen Asian wrestlers do well, the middle weight classes have been dominated by European wrestlers, especially at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg.

Since the weight classes were shuffled in 2018, only three Asian wrestlers have managed to win gold medals at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg. Reza SAKI (IRI) won at 71kg in 2022 and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) claimed gold at 80kg in 2023. In 2024, Amir SAEIDI (IRI) broke the jinx at 65kg.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) is the European 65kg champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In Athens, at 65kg, European champ Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) will lead the charge. Other key European wrestlers include silver medalist Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), bronze medalist Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), home favorite Iason MARGARITIDIS (GRE) and many other strong competitors from the European Championships in Skopje.

Asian champion Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ), who finished seventh at 60kg at the last World Championships, will look to break European dominance at this weight class. So will Pan Am champ Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), who is competing in Freestyle as well.

At 71kg, it can very well end up being a European champion vs Asian champion match to decide it all. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) will look to add a world title to his European one while Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), the Asian champion, will have a chance to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Despite his 14th-place finish this year at the European Championships, Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) is a strong contender for gold. He finished seventh at the World Championships last year and has a silver medal in 2023 at 65kg. European silver medalist Ignat MEICO (MDA) and bronze medalist Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN) are also entered.

European U17 champion Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As many as 12 European wrestlers from Skopje are entered at 80kg for Athens. Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) was the champion and will be the favorite to win gold in Athens. He is joined by silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and bronze medalists Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and Ismail BEREKET (TUR).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), the Asian champ, and Pan-Am champion Isai FERNANDEZ (USA) have a big task ahead of them to capture the gold medal.

An interesting entry at 92kg is Said PASHAYEV (AZE), the European Freestyle champ, who will also compete in Greco-Roman. He finished 16th in Skopje. He may not be the favorite but has a chance to trouble the likes of European champion Vadim DRAGUSHAN (UWW) and Asian champion Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB), who also is a returning bronze medalist.

Filling the line-up are Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Adilet TOISHY (KAZ), European silver medalist Tymur LARIN (UKR) and Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who will be the dark horse at this weight class. The hosts Greece will bank on European bronze medalist Ioannis MOUTOUSIDIS (GRE) to win a medal at home.

Iran has been denied the 110kg gold since 2019 but it hopes that Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) will bring it back. Although, it won't be easy. The field includes European champion Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) and silver medalist Denis LAZAROV (BUL). Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) may trouble the Iranian and so can Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), who finished fifth last year.

European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) will be the favorite at 60kg as he dominated the European field barring the final. His biggest challenge can come from Asian champ Damir AKAN (KAZ) in an otherwise weak weight class.

At 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) is the European champ and he has a good chance to win the world title as well. But the lowest weight class always has a surprise in store. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) will look to avenge his European final's loss to Huseynli while Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), European bronze medalist, is also entered. But can Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ), the Asian champion, spoil their party?

Another Asian champion from Kazakhstan, Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), will be challenging the 48kg field that includes European champion Stanislav IVANOV (BUL), silver medalist Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM), and bronze medalist Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE).

Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), left, and Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW) are likely to face each other at 51kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Armenia's gold at the World Championships can come from Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), who won the European Championships gold medal at 51kg and a world silver medal at 45kg last year. He will also have a chance to avenge his 2024 Worlds final's loss to Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW), who is also entered at 51kg.

The 55kg category is again dominated with European entries including champion Danil LOZHKIN (UWW) and silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO). Asian Championships finalists are also entered with champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) and silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB).

Higuchi, Susaki reign supreme as two Olympic champs tumble

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